McTag wrote:I think the cult of celebrity does not sit well with British royals....
Excuse me, but being a celebrity is the entire purpose of being a royal. That's why they exist-they have no other function anymore. They are there to give luster to events by their presence, to visit other countries as good will ambassadors even though they never discuss anything of any consequence, and to do things like appear at flood relief stations. That's what they are there for.
And ever since she came on the scene, Diana's presence seemed to add more luster to those events and she brought more sunshine on the scene than all the other royals combined. That's what got her in trouble with the Queen-that and having the bad judgment of having a bout of post-partum depression. Which incredibly went untreated.
McTag wrote:...and Camilla will do really well as an ordinary woman who will avoid as much publicity as she can...
I'll say she'll avoid publicity. The thirty year affair she had with Charles effectively ended any hope that he will be looked up to as a popular King, assuming he even takes the throne-an assumption that is increasingly in doubt.
The Queen downplayed this ceremony as much as she could. The announcement was just a few weeks ago, the ceremony was kept largely private. It is fair to say that this is as small as a royal wedding can reasonably get.
It is rather plain that if it were up to the Queen, Charles would take Camilla to Vegas and get married in a five minute ceremony performed by an Elvis impersonator. But the British press would eat them up-so the Queen pretends to give this small ceremony a measure of limited approval.
McTag wrote:...as did the late Queen Mother who was much loved and respected and little understood.
Unless the late Queen Mother got involved in some scandals which the press spashed across the front pages daily, I don't think there is much comparison between her and Camilla.
McTag wrote:For that reason I think the monarchy will do very much better with Camilla on board.
Better than with Diana?
In an institution where the ability to connect with people and to convince them you care is the reason for existence, Diana was a shining light. The treatment of her was nothing less than a royal disgrace by any measure. Unless Charles really finds himself and comes up with some spectacular performances, he will be forever remembered as the 32 year old prince who set up his 19 year old bride for years of public humiliation-and watched as she overcame all that to become an internationally respected advocate for human causes while Charles became increasingly irrelevant in the international mind.
This fashion looks better, than the rest of them.
